MSU hosts UAV conference

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University this week will host a two-day national symposium on unmanned aircraft systems. Titled "Academic Opportunities: Developing the Future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft," it's designed to identify research opportunities in the growing UAV field, including airspace integration, autonomy, swarming, signal processing and sense and avoid. The invitation-only symposium begins Wednesday at Hunter Henry Center with keynote speaker Lt. Gen. David Deptula, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The gathering brings together some 200 military, government and academic leaders to help update the Air Force's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan for 2009-47. (Source: MSU, 03/23/10 ) Gulf Coast note: MSU is in the state's Golden Triangle, home to a cluster of aerospace companies, including those involved in UAVs. South Mississippi, home to Stennis Space Center, is the state's other aerospace hotspot, with portions of Northrop Grumman Global Hawk and Fire Scout UAVs built in Moss Point.